Warning ⚠: highly descriptive language and intense violence.

David offered Fiona a sarcastic salute before dramatically leaping off the edge of the hill. With worried expressions, Aurora and the others hurried to the edge, their hearts pounding with concern as they watched David's descent.

Halfway down the hill, David flashed a confident smile, adjusting his body mid-fall. He soared down effortlessly, eventually planting his feet firmly on the rugged terrain. As he picked up speed, his body blurred with inhumane agility, striding down the steep slope in a graceful motion.

With a burst of momentum, he launched himself into the air, the wind whipping through his hair as he defied gravity and executed a flawless front flip. And then, with a soft thud, he landed safely on the ground and straightened up, offering a satisfied smile that graced his lips.

Upon confirming David's wellbeing, a wave of relief washed over Aurora, her tense muscles finally relaxing as she watched him with a mixture of admiration and concern. However, David's gaze turned upward, his expression morphing into a sneer as he challenged Fiona, daring her to do what he just did.

In response, Fiona met his gaze with a scoff, her eyes flashing with determination as she pretended to turn her back on the hilltop. But in the blink of an eye, David felt a tap on his shoulder, and to his astonishment, found Fiona and Aurora standing right behind him.

DAVID: "By the heavenly one! How the hell did you do that?"

Aurora couldn't help but find David's surprised expression adorable, a soft chuckle escaping her lips as she watched his reaction. However, Fiona's response was notably different; her expression remained stoic, her eyes betraying none of the amusement that danced in Aurora's.

FIONA: "I made an image projection, you idiot!" she sternly revealed, gesturing toward the hilltop.

As Fiona's direction at the top of the hill became clear, David's realization dawned upon him. She had utilized the techniques of her Sonic Flame to create a convincing fiery illusion, transporting herself and Aurora from the hill without his or anyone else's notice.

A wry smile played upon David's lips as he accepted the truth of his defeat. (Heh! She's got me,) he admitted to himself, a sense of admiration mingling with his folly of underestimating Fiona's speed. (I'm really a dumbass to have thought that I could possibly beat her.)

As the playful interlude came to an end, the crew knew it was time to refocus their efforts and press onward. Rim and her army troop soon joined David and his companions, their presence bolstering the numbers.

Together, they marched forward, their sights set on the imposing structure of the Scale Shield's building.

With David and Fiona leading the way, the group finally approached the entrance door of the building. With a confident nod exchanged between them, they pushed open the door, leading the others into the enemy's lair without facing any resistance.

Inside the building, the group observed the aftermath of a fierce battle, evidenced by the damaged surroundings and the scattered corpses of Scale Shield minions strewn across the passage grounds.

Among the carnage, David's keen eyes caught sight of a dead Scale Shield elite, whose body bore the recent signs of being burned alive. As he examined the charred remains of the corpse, he deduced that it had fallen victim to someone proficient in the manipulation of flames.

DAVID: "Hey Fiona! You've got to check out this body. It seems to have died recently by the hands of a fire wielder," David beckoned, drawing Fiona's attention to the deceased body.

FIONA: "[Examines the corpse.] Hmm. You're correct. This appears to be the handiwork of a Crestivenian. Judging by the extent of the burns, it seems likely that the perpetrator was a Crestivenian of the saint realm's hierarchy, who wields the cyan sky flame," she remarked, carefully assessing the evidence before her.

DAVID: "Does it ring a bell to anyone?"

AURORA: "[Gasps in realization.] Oh my! This is definitely Bernard's doing. It has to be him!"

DAVID: "... And not just your brother! It appears he wasn't alone. Now I see, your brother and his allies were the uninvited guests crashing this organization's party!"

AURORA: "Then if my guess is right, he must be here for me,"

FIONA: "Perhaps, not just you, cousin. By now, he must be aware of the girl with your DNA. We must catch up to him," Fiona suggested to Aurora.

Confirming Bernard's presence in the Scale Shield's building, Aurora's tense shoulders relaxed, her features softening with relief. With determination etched upon her face, she joined the rest of the group in their mission to locate and reunite with him.

However, just as they thought their path was clear, a sudden ambush threw their plans into disarray. From out of thin air, a horde of sorcerers materialized, their ominous presence surrounding David and the rest of the group, effectively cutting off all possible exits.

Fiona, flanked by Rim and their fifteen troops, raised their firearms in unison, their aim steady and unwavering as they trained their sights on the encroaching sorcerers.

Meanwhile, Aurora's eyes blazed cyan hue as she unleashed her sky flame, the crackling energy dancing around her fingers. Her stance was one of fierce determination, ready to unleash the full extent of her abilities against their adversaries.

As for David, a silent smirk played upon his lips as he entered the divine state of Spirit Mode, his connection to the holy flame evident as ethereal radiant crosses swirled around him.

Sensing the presence of the holy flame, the sorcerers surrounding David and his companions grew wary. They understood all too well the lethal consequences of coming into contact with the divine fire and hesitated to advance any closer.

Aurora observed the sorcerers' apprehensive reaction to David's holy flame, her curiosity piqued. Her gaze shifted to him with newfound interest. Evidently intrigued by the display of power that had given their adversaries pause, she couldn't help but wonder about the extent of David's abilities.

AURORA: "... This is no Crestivenian fire. What nature of power is this?"

DAVID: "This is dubbed the holy fire, effective against any magic user. It's quite a long story. You'll get to know about it in the long run!" David assured her.

***

Meanwhile.......

Within the chambers of the Scale Shield's stronghold, Modred and Kozak sat in front of a state-of-the-art supercomputer, their eyes glued to the screen as they monitored the unfolding events within the building. Each flicker of light and shadow was captured by the intricate network of surveillance cameras, feeding a constant stream of information to the supercomputer's display.

Suddenly, Modred's eyes widened in shock, his breath catching in his throat as he caught sight of an unexpected figure amidst the chaos displayed on the screen. David's presence, unexpected and unwelcome, sent a jolt of surprise coursing through the sorcerer's veins, his mind racing to comprehend the implications of this unforeseen development.

MODRED: "So he came! David Blaze actually came to the building as well. I should have known better. Haha!" Modred laughed like a lunatic, his grin widening with crazed delight.

KOZAK: "[Also notices Aurora's presence.] .... And there she is, the girl I've been searching for all this time, right beside him. It all makes sense now! This David Blaze has been harboring the subject. No wonder my men vanished without a trace in Beverly Hills," Kozak concluded, finally connecting the dots.

However, the moment he shifted his gaze to Modred's direction, the sorcerer was nowhere to be found in the chamber.

With a sense of urgency, Modred had vanished into thin air, his sudden disappearance indicating his intent to pursue David and confront him head-on.

KOZAK: "[Covers his face in frustration.] That pathetic and impatient clown! He couldn't even wait for my signal. Well, it matters not to me whether he lives or dies!"

***

Back at the passageway, David and his companions were being stalled by the sorcerers. Despite the enemy's reluctance to retreat, they remained hesitant to confront David and his allies head-on, acutely aware of the danger posed by the holy flame that surrounded them.

A tense silence hung in the air, broken only by the crackling sounds of flame and the wary glances exchanged between the opposing forces. It was clear that the sorcerers were biding their time, their actions hinting at a hidden agenda or a waiting game of sorts. Sensing their hesitation, David decided to provoke them into action.

DAVID: "[Taunts the sorcerers.] Hey, what's wrong? Wary of me already? Oh, come now! I'm sure you've been longing for some excitement with me around."

However, as David continued to goad the sorcerers, a chilling voice pierced through the air, cutting through the tension like a blade. It was Modred, emerging from the shadows with an ominous presence.

MODRED: "Oh, indeed, David Blaze! It's been too long since our last encounter. 'ABYSSAL ART: ABYSSAL TENTACLES'!!" Modred unleashed his wrath.

In a sinister display of power, countless tentacles surged from the ground, engulfing David and his allies in a merciless onslaught from every direction.

Everyone scattered around due to the onslaught and began defending themselves with everything that they've got. Rim and her soldiers fought bravely, but the relentless assault of the abyssal tentacles proved overwhelming. Despite their valiant efforts, the soldiers found themselves outmatched. One by one, they fell victim to the dark magic, their bodies drained of life as the tentacles cleaved through their numbers with merciless efficiency. Within moments, eight of Rim's soldiers lay lifeless on the ground, their sacrifices a grim testament to the ferocity of their adversary.

While the others struggled against the onslaught, David remained relatively unfazed by the threat of the abyssal tentacles. He effortlessly countered each encroaching tendril with a blaze of holy flame, engulfing them in searing fire. Around him, multiple gleaming cross revolved at incredible speed, amplifying the effectiveness of his Spirit Mode. With Aurora under his protection, he ensured she stayed close by his side, shielding her from the abyssal assault.

But unbeknownst to David, a stealthy tentacle slithered toward Aurora from behind, ensnaring her legs and dragging her away before she could react. Her cries for help pierced the chaos, her struggles futile as she attempted to fend off the relentless advance of the tentacle with her flames, only to find them absorbed by its dark tendrils.

As the tentacle dragged her into the open, others eagerly joined the assault, poised to drain her life force. But before they could reach her, David sprang into action, his eyes ablaze with an intense fiery light that illuminated the darkness. With a fierce determination burning within him, he unleashed a destructive beam of fire from his eyes, slicing through the tentacles like a scorching blade of vengeance.

The tendrils recoiled in agony, their dark forms writhing in pain as they released their hold on Aurora, allowing her to break free from their grasp. With a gasp of relief, she stumbled back into David's protective embrace, her heart pounding with gratitude for his timely intervention.